City Manager Presents State of the City to Rotary

January 10, 2017
By: Stephen Kent

Rick Finn

Rick Finn, Bay City Manager, presented his "State of the City" talk to Rotary on Tuesday.

Rick's talk began with an overview of Economic Development. He talked about the progress of the Uptown Development including mention of Dow Corning, Chemical Bank, the brownstone townhouses, McLaren's medical facility, Real Seafood, and Michigan Sugar's corporate offices. He also talked about the new business incubator that will be located in Uptown. Overall this accounts for some $50 million in private investment and as many as 500 jobs.

Other items include the new Comfort Inn redevelopment of the old Holiday Inn downtown. The Inn is open and recently hosted their first guests. The Times Lofts Apartments are about to open with 32 market rate apartments. The Bay Area Water Treatment Plant is coming on-line. The Jolly Pumpkin is coming to downtown and the landmark Crapo building is being restored.

All of the downtown's streets have been resurfaced. Soon the Midland Street business district will be redeveloped and Trumbull Street from Center to the Independence Bridge will be reconstructed. Look for a new city sidewalk initiative soon and a new Visitors Bureau building.

The city is also paying attention to its image and appearance. Two new, full-time, Rental Inspectors have been added and the police will post a Community Policing Officer in City Hall where they can be a point of contact for anyone who needs assistance.

Rick addressed nuisance complaints cases that have been heard. He talked about plans and progress for the demolition of dangerous buildings as well as the newly redefined County Land Bank, plans for Imagination Station II, and the restoration of downtown's historic Battery Park.

City employees have received updated training in customer service. A new phone system has been installed, the city is about to roll out a new website, and the "Fix It" app has been upgraded.

A new city-wide video surveillance camera system is coming on-line and all police are wearing body cameras. Finn addressed potential concerns about the surveillance system saying "We're not doing anything to invade citizen privacy nor is that our intent." Bay City is at the forefront of installing this type of system in a small city.

Finn made a point of saying that a Town Hall Meeting is scheduled for 6:00 pm on Monday, January 30, 2017. The City Housing Implementation Strategy and Housing plan will be presented. The new website will be reviewed and the Employee of the Year award will be presented.

CLUB NEWS and ANNOUNCEMENTS

Current and past DISTRICT DISPATCH newsletters are available on the District site shown in the LINKS section below.

DATES TO REMEMBER

OFF SITE Meeting - March 7
At the Delta College Planetarium.
(Also May 16, June 6)

Upcoming Programs

January 17, 2016, The Running Dead and the Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy.
Zachery Branigan, SBLC Executive Director, will be sharing with club an overview of their organization along with some details of the programs that the Noon Rotary Club will be supporting with the funds raised through this year?s Zombie Run!!

January 24, 2016, Dr. Jeff Abernathy, President of Alma College,
will speak on the value of a liberal arts education in a STEM-focused world.

January 31, 2016 Midland Center for the Arts
Terri Trotter, CEO of Midland Center for the Arts, presents an update regarding current and upcoming programming at MCFTA.

January 31, 2016 ala-cARTe of Bay County.
Get an update from the "ala-cARTe" group of Bay County. This group is combined of 8 non-profit organizations of arts and culture. State Theatre, Bay Arts Council, Studio 23/The Arts Center, Bay City Players, Bay Concert Band, Delta College Planetarium, Bay County Library System, Bay County Historical Museum.

Current and past DISTRICT DISPATCH newsletters are available on the District site shown in the LINKS section below.